(Edited New Zealand Bloodstock press release)

The New Zealand Bloodstock select yearling sale kicked off its three-day run with a NZ$210,000 ($148,754 in U.S. funds) session topper and an average price that was up 48.9% from the auction-ending amount last year.

The most expensive horse sold at Karaka in New Zealand was a colt by Ustinov that is a full brother to Vonusti, the recent winner of The Oaks Stud Telegraph Handicap (NZ-I). Lucky Owners, an Australia-based syndicate, purchased the yearling from Brighthill Farm.

The first session’s results included a gross of NZ$8,237,000 ($5,834,680) for the 148 horses that sold. The average was NZ$55,655 ($39,423), and the median price was NZ$45,000 ($31,876). The clearance rate was 77%.